Hi Era! First time creating a thread and I wanted to bring something unique to talk about!
This year we're getting a new Astérix game! Astérix & Obélix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir is releasing in all platforms on November 21th and I am quite excited about it, even though the game doesn't seem as ambitious as previous titles in the XXL trilogy.
Astérix, for whose don't know, it's the little Gaul guy from the french comics created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny; Alongside his trust friend Obélix and his dog Dogmatix they usually fight against the tirany of Romans, while powered by an old magic potion receipt of their village. It's full of old and tired cartoon tropes and exagered expressions, but a classic nonetheless.
The franchise never took off in North America, as far I'm aware, as the humor is very.. regional, I suppose? And while I can't say for its popularity here in Brazil as well, at least I got to create memories with the cartoons, the old live action movies and of course video games!.. In fact, Astérix is one of these characters that, despite of being a creation of another media, I strong associte him to gaming;
I wanted to make a little trip down to memory lane and recapitulate Astérix presence in the gaming market, while probably presenting some titles weren't released everywhere thus turning them a bit underground:
Astérix / Obélix for Atari 2600 (1983)
Already starting without a worldwide release, the very first Astérix game was released in North America under a different license (Taz from Warner Bros.), but Obélix had own title that never left Europe
What can I say? It's Atari,.. simpler times
Astérix et la Potion Magique (1986) / Astérix and the Magic Carpet (1987) for PC
Getting more traditional here, we have a basic sidescrolling platformer and an adventure game with maze sections like Pac-Man (?); these games got a handful of ports for Commodore, Amiga and such, but it still far from a worldwide release
Astérix (1991) for SEGA Master System
Here's something I have way more affinity. This is the first Astérix game I ever played and I still have a like it a lot! Part what I like to call the "Master System trilogy" all published by SEGA. It's simple, charming, good level and enemy variety and with a lot of good humor.
Astérix (1992) for Arcade
Now this one, might be a bit more popular than previous mentions.. an Arcade beat 'n up by Konami! Not often cited as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or The Simpsons game, Konami used to make a lot of these and it's quite unsual for a Japanese company; The combat is excelent as you expect and the sprite work incredible! It's just fitting beating up tons of Romans in this style!
Astérix and the Secret Mission (1993) / Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994) for SEGA Master System
The 2/3s of the Master System trilogy I mentioned; --Secret Mission is as good as the original game, imo; That one was rebranded in Brazil over a popular TV Show at the time too; -- Great Rescue, however, it's a bit different, since it's orginally a Genesis game but not a downport in 8-Bit system, but a complete different game.
I believe Great Rescue it's the first in our list to have an official North America release too (at least the Genesis version); I can't say for sure on the Arcade game by Konami, since the information seems a bit scarse
Astérix (1993) for SNES / Astérix and the Power of the Gods (1995) for SEGA Genesis / Astérix & Obélix (1995) for SNES
The new hardware arrived and officially Astérix moved on; --although the first Astérix game on SNES in 1993 had an interesting story where Infogrames had a NES version basically ready but they cancelled. Power of the Gods is back to the old tradition of locking Astérix in Europe; Astérix & Obélix got a sudo remake on GBA (we'll talk about that soon)
Astérix (1999) for PlayStation
Are you tired of games using simply the name of the franchise? Here's our fifth "Astérix only" game, this time on PS1. This one is notorious for having action seen of many different point of views through the game
Astérix and the Search for Dogmatix (2000) for Game Boy Color
Quite few games has the actual label of being truly exclusive for the Game Boy Color, since you got a lot of colored ports of OG Game Boy games. This one is one of these exceptions but I don't have much to talk about .. probably one of its few merits;
Astérix and Obélix take on Caesar (1999) / Astérix Mega Madness (2001) for PlayStation
Another pair of games that were exclusive to Europe, despite of the first one being based in the live action movie that, honestly, even being so cheesy and silly, was quite of a big production; The game isn't as well produced but it tries to replicate the realistic take on Astérix world. While Mega Madness is a Party game! Because every franchise needs one of those!
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Astérix & Obélix: Bash them All! (2002) for Game Boy Advance
That's the remake I previously mentioned was included in this package; this improves a lot of the original Astérix & Obélix on SNES. Better graphics, better hit detection.. I just can't say the music is better, but that's more GBA's fault than is the game. The original half of this is Astérix and Cleopatra, which is way more action heavy;
Astérix & Obélix: Kick Buttix (2003) for PlayStation 2
After all these years, Astérix games return to America! This is the first one of the XXL trilogy and it was quite a leap! An ambitious 3D platformer with combat influenced by what was hot in the genre at the time. Characters got redesigns especifically for this series and had a more edgy attitude, without losing the key comical aspects of the series. There were GameCube and PC versions as well, but those were European exclusive and kept the name XXL there.
Astérix & Obélix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum (2006) for PlayStation 2/GameCube/PC
Probably the most popular game in the whole list here (despite of being European exclusive as well until recently), XXL 2 got the spotlight for its video game parodies! The cover itself was already a clear reference to GTA, but through the adventure you see Romans cosplaying Mario, Sonic, Rayman, Ryu, Pac-Man.. you got references to Mortal Kombat, Tetris, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, they got everything covered! Combat and level progression much, much improved from the first XXL game got recently a remaster for PS4, Xbox One, Switch and Steam, for the first time released in North America
Astérix & Obélix XXL 2: Mission: Wifix (2006) for Nintendo DS/PSP
Not much has to be acrescented on the DS and PSP versions of XXL 2, which are basically the same of the console versions, but with the DS version in particular having some touch screen inputs. It was impressive nonetheless seeing such big games running on handhelds
Astérix at the Olympic Games (2007) for PS2/Wii
Astérix wasn't exactly parodying Mario and Sonic once more, but that's based in an old comic by the same name. It's mainly sports based, but it retains the XXL designs for characters, supposedly working as a SpinOFF. Strangely, this game got a North American release but only on Xbox 360 a year later
Astérix: The Mansions of the Gods (2014) for 3DS
Based in the excellent CG animated movie of same name, this a very simple action/beat 'n up game that lost its charm a little bit in the transition. Not that is something to discredit an additional Astérix game released outside Europe, but that only got a digital release at eShop.
Astérix & Obélix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir (2019) for Switch/PS4/Xbox One/Steam
After the remaster of XXL 2, the franchise got back! This time seems to be an isometric platformer/beat 'n up; Not as crazy as previous games and characters got reversed to their simpler comic designs. But I'm antecipating this game quite a lot! budget or not is great to have Astérix back on the light! Microids alluded that this time around the game will parody movies.
-------
and there you have it! I spent a little while preparing this thread, I hope we all can share some memories with this franchise ^^'; If not, there's any particular multimedia IP that you related more to video games than anything else? like Batman or Mickey Mouse?
Also, let me know if I missed any details on the games that I'm not super familiar! Of course I didn't put every Astérix game ever here, but I think I covered the basics ~
🐺 🐾
This year we're getting a new Astérix game! Astérix & Obélix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir is releasing in all platforms on November 21th and I am quite excited about it, even though the game doesn't seem as ambitious as previous titles in the XXL trilogy.
Astérix, for whose don't know, it's the little Gaul guy from the french comics created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny; Alongside his trust friend Obélix and his dog Dogmatix they usually fight against the tirany of Romans, while powered by an old magic potion receipt of their village. It's full of old and tired cartoon tropes and exagered expressions, but a classic nonetheless.
The franchise never took off in North America, as far I'm aware, as the humor is very.. regional, I suppose? And while I can't say for its popularity here in Brazil as well, at least I got to create memories with the cartoons, the old live action movies and of course video games!.. In fact, Astérix is one of these characters that, despite of being a creation of another media, I strong associte him to gaming;
I wanted to make a little trip down to memory lane and recapitulate Astérix presence in the gaming market, while probably presenting some titles weren't released everywhere thus turning them a bit underground:
Astérix / Obélix for Atari 2600 (1983)
Already starting without a worldwide release, the very first Astérix game was released in North America under a different license (Taz from Warner Bros.), but Obélix had own title that never left Europe
What can I say? It's Atari,.. simpler times
Astérix et la Potion Magique (1986) / Astérix and the Magic Carpet (1987) for PC
Getting more traditional here, we have a basic sidescrolling platformer and an adventure game with maze sections like Pac-Man (?); these games got a handful of ports for Commodore, Amiga and such, but it still far from a worldwide release
Astérix (1991) for SEGA Master System
Here's something I have way more affinity. This is the first Astérix game I ever played and I still have a like it a lot! Part what I like to call the "Master System trilogy" all published by SEGA. It's simple, charming, good level and enemy variety and with a lot of good humor.
Astérix (1992) for Arcade
Now this one, might be a bit more popular than previous mentions.. an Arcade beat 'n up by Konami! Not often cited as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or The Simpsons game, Konami used to make a lot of these and it's quite unsual for a Japanese company; The combat is excelent as you expect and the sprite work incredible! It's just fitting beating up tons of Romans in this style!
Astérix and the Secret Mission (1993) / Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994) for SEGA Master System
The 2/3s of the Master System trilogy I mentioned; --Secret Mission is as good as the original game, imo; That one was rebranded in Brazil over a popular TV Show at the time too; -- Great Rescue, however, it's a bit different, since it's orginally a Genesis game but not a downport in 8-Bit system, but a complete different game.
I believe Great Rescue it's the first in our list to have an official North America release too (at least the Genesis version); I can't say for sure on the Arcade game by Konami, since the information seems a bit scarse
Astérix (1993) for SNES / Astérix and the Power of the Gods (1995) for SEGA Genesis / Astérix & Obélix (1995) for SNES
The new hardware arrived and officially Astérix moved on; --although the first Astérix game on SNES in 1993 had an interesting story where Infogrames had a NES version basically ready but they cancelled. Power of the Gods is back to the old tradition of locking Astérix in Europe; Astérix & Obélix got a sudo remake on GBA (we'll talk about that soon)
Astérix (1999) for PlayStation
Are you tired of games using simply the name of the franchise? Here's our fifth "Astérix only" game, this time on PS1. This one is notorious for having action seen of many different point of views through the game
Astérix and the Search for Dogmatix (2000) for Game Boy Color
Quite few games has the actual label of being truly exclusive for the Game Boy Color, since you got a lot of colored ports of OG Game Boy games. This one is one of these exceptions but I don't have much to talk about .. probably one of its few merits;
Astérix and Obélix take on Caesar (1999) / Astérix Mega Madness (2001) for PlayStation
Another pair of games that were exclusive to Europe, despite of the first one being based in the live action movie that, honestly, even being so cheesy and silly, was quite of a big production; The game isn't as well produced but it tries to replicate the realistic take on Astérix world. While Mega Madness is a Party game! Because every franchise needs one of those!
Astérix & Obélix: Bash them All! (2002) for Game Boy Advance
That's the remake I previously mentioned was included in this package; this improves a lot of the original Astérix & Obélix on SNES. Better graphics, better hit detection.. I just can't say the music is better, but that's more GBA's fault than is the game. The original half of this is Astérix and Cleopatra, which is way more action heavy;
Astérix & Obélix: Kick Buttix (2003) for PlayStation 2
After all these years, Astérix games return to America! This is the first one of the XXL trilogy and it was quite a leap! An ambitious 3D platformer with combat influenced by what was hot in the genre at the time. Characters got redesigns especifically for this series and had a more edgy attitude, without losing the key comical aspects of the series. There were GameCube and PC versions as well, but those were European exclusive and kept the name XXL there.
Astérix & Obélix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum (2006) for PlayStation 2/GameCube/PC
Probably the most popular game in the whole list here (despite of being European exclusive as well until recently), XXL 2 got the spotlight for its video game parodies! The cover itself was already a clear reference to GTA, but through the adventure you see Romans cosplaying Mario, Sonic, Rayman, Ryu, Pac-Man.. you got references to Mortal Kombat, Tetris, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, they got everything covered! Combat and level progression much, much improved from the first XXL game got recently a remaster for PS4, Xbox One, Switch and Steam, for the first time released in North America
Astérix & Obélix XXL 2: Mission: Wifix (2006) for Nintendo DS/PSP
Not much has to be acrescented on the DS and PSP versions of XXL 2, which are basically the same of the console versions, but with the DS version in particular having some touch screen inputs. It was impressive nonetheless seeing such big games running on handhelds
Astérix at the Olympic Games (2007) for PS2/Wii
Astérix wasn't exactly parodying Mario and Sonic once more, but that's based in an old comic by the same name. It's mainly sports based, but it retains the XXL designs for characters, supposedly working as a SpinOFF. Strangely, this game got a North American release but only on Xbox 360 a year later
Astérix: The Mansions of the Gods (2014) for 3DS
Based in the excellent CG animated movie of same name, this a very simple action/beat 'n up game that lost its charm a little bit in the transition. Not that is something to discredit an additional Astérix game released outside Europe, but that only got a digital release at eShop.
Astérix & Obélix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir (2019) for Switch/PS4/Xbox One/Steam
After the remaster of XXL 2, the franchise got back! This time seems to be an isometric platformer/beat 'n up; Not as crazy as previous games and characters got reversed to their simpler comic designs. But I'm antecipating this game quite a lot! budget or not is great to have Astérix back on the light! Microids alluded that this time around the game will parody movies.
-------
and there you have it! I spent a little while preparing this thread, I hope we all can share some memories with this franchise ^^'; If not, there's any particular multimedia IP that you related more to video games than anything else? like Batman or Mickey Mouse?
Also, let me know if I missed any details on the games that I'm not super familiar! Of course I didn't put every Astérix game ever here, but I think I covered the basics ~
🐺 🐾
